Media releaseMonday 16 February 2015 Hearing impaired and Deaf children will suffer if Government privatises Australian Hearing The Australian Government is considering the privatisation of Australian Hearing. Australia H earing has been the sole provi der of hearing s ervices for h earing impai red and deaf children since 1947. There are approximately 20,000 hearing impaired and Deaf children and young adults who access services at Australian Hearing’s national network of service locations. The clients range in age from birth to 26 years. Some have multiple disabiliti es. 11% are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island er people. Community advocate organisations warn that the privatisation of this Government agency would have a significant impact on the lives of hearing impaired and deaf children and their families. Ann Porter AM, founder and chief executiv e of Aussie Dea f Kids, said: “A ustralian He aring offers se rvices to hard of hearing and deaf children in Australia, regardless of location and socio-economic background. Australian H earing gives them access to high quality technology that optimises their ability to listen and, in turn, to learn.” “The sale of Australian Hearing would put outcomes for Australian children with hearing loss at risk and could impact on the entire health, education and disability infrastructure that supports them and their families,” Ms Porter said. Parents of Deaf Children believes a sale could see children fall through the gaps and limit availability of services. Parents of Deaf Children Coordinator Kate Kennedy said, ““If a new owner was to withdraw services, especially in rural and remote areas, it would have a devastating impact for Australian children with hearing loss.” Aboriginal a nd Torres Str ait Islander c hildren are at r isk if the asse t is sold. The Indigenous o utreach service through which Australian Hearing provides culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in urban, rural and remote areas is placed at risk by the proposed sale. Deafness Forum of Australia believes that moving to a commercial arrangement introdu ces a high degree of uncertainty for very vulnerable people. “There is no guarantee there will be providers willing to take on this highly complex work, or they may not have the expertise needed, leaving clients with the greatest need without a reliable service”, said Deafness Forum chairman David Brady.
Hearing impaired and Deaf children will suffer if Government
privatises Australian Hearing
The Australian Government is considering the privatisation of
Australian Hearing. Australia Hearing has been the sole provider of
hearing services for hearing impaired and deaf children since 1947.
There are approximately 20,000 hearing impaired and Deaf children
and young adults who access services at Australian Hearings
national network of service locations. The clients range in age
from birth to 26 years. Some have multiple disabilities. 11% are
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Community advocate
organisations warn that the privatisation of this Government agency
would have a significant impact on the lives of hearing impaired
and deaf children and their families. Ann Porter AM, founder and
chief executive of Aussie Deaf Kids, said: Australian Hearing
offers services to hard of hearing and deaf children in Australia,
regardless of location and socio-economic background. Australian
Hearing gives them access to high quality technology that optimises
their ability to listen and, in turn, to learn. The sale of
Australian Hearing would put outcomes for Australian children with
hearing loss at risk and could impact on the entire health,
education and disability infrastructure that supports them and
their families, Ms Porter said. Parents of Deaf Children believes a
sale could see children fall through the gaps and limit
availability of services. Parents of Deaf Children Coordinator Kate
Kennedy said, If a new owner was to withdraw services, especially
in rural and remote areas, it would have a devastating impact for
Australian children with hearing loss. Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children are at risk if the asset is sold. The Indigenous
outreach service through which Australian Hearing provides
culturally appropriate services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander communities in urban, rural and remote areas is placed at
risk by the proposed sale. Deafness Forum of Australia believes
that moving to a commercial arrangement introduces a high degree of
uncertainty for very vulnerable people. There is no guarantee there
will be providers willing to take on this highly complex work, or
they may not have the expertise needed, leaving clients with the
greatest need without a reliable service, said Deafness Forum
chairman David Brady.
Children With Disability Australia said that a decision on the
future of Australian Hearing should not only be about the financial
benefit that may be realised from the sale of a Government asset.
Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Gotlib said: The decision must be
considered in the context of the impact it will have on the lives
of highly vulnerable hearing impaired and deaf children and their
families and carers. INTERVIEW CONTACTS
Ann Porter AM [email protected] 02 6684 2571,
0419 495 032 http://www.aussiedeafkids.org.au
